The Countess meets members of the Defence Medical Welfare Service

The St John and Red Cross Defence Medical Welfare Service (DMWS) is a registered charity that works with NHS Trusts, Charitable partners and the for Ministry of Defence to provide practical and emotional support to the Armed Forces Community when they are receiving treatment as either an in or out-patient.

The Countess of Wessex met service users and staff over afternoon tea, and also studied three storyboards depicting real DMWS cases – each very different which demonstrated to her the vast diversity of the support DMWS offers to patients and their families.

Her Royal Highness was introduced to DMWS Patron and Iraq veteran Simon Brown and 8 other DMWS service users who talked to her about their own experiences and how DMWS had helped them during difficult and stressful medical treatment.

Finally, The Countess received a DMWS water bottle, in aid of her Duke of Edinburgh's Award Challenge to cycle 445 miles from Edinburgh to London over seven days in September.

Find out more about the work of the DMWS on their website.